Stephane Lemeret and Pierre-Alexandre Jean claimed a double victory in the opening round of the FFSA French GT4 Cup as a total of 44 cars took to the track for the Nogaro Easter meeting.

The pair, co-driving one of three CMR-entered Alpine A110 GT4s, benefited from a quick pit stop to leap ahead of the leaders and take an early advantage in the championship during Sunday’s Race 1.

Lemeret was in the battle for third position when the mandatory driver swaps took place, however his co-driver emerged out front after a quick turnaround.

Jean’s lead over the chasing back was pegged back by a late-race safety car but the 18-year-old managed to hold on for the win ahead Gregory Guilvert in the Sainteloc Racing Audi R8 LMS GT4 started by pole-sitter Fabien Michal.

Guilvert and Michal were classified winners of the inaugural round of the GT4 South European Series, which joined the French Cup field for its opening weekend with a nine-car grid.

Jean took the lead from Guilvert at the first corner of Monday’s second race and remained out front for his entire stint.

He passed over the Alpine to Lemeret who exited the pits ahead of Fabien Michal and Jean-Luc Beaubelique.

The CMR pair now lead the championship by 14 points ahead of Michal and Guilvert, who again finished Monday’s race runner-up.

This meant the Sainteloc duo therefore scored both wins within the GT4 South European Series field.

***A notable addition to the French GT4 field was former FIA World Endurance Championship LMP1 racer Nicolas Prost, who made his class debut in a CMR Alpine with Jean-Charles Rédélé, the son of Alpine brand founder Jean Rédélé.

***Audi led the way during DTM pre-season testing at the Lausitzring. The German manufacturer locked out the top five places with Robin Frijns leading the RS5 contingent on a time of 1:35.169.

***The fastest BMW lap was a 1:35.884 from Joel Eriksson, while R-Motorsport’s Aston Martin Vantage DTM placed ninth at the end of four days of running with Jake Dennis producing a 1:36.345.

***Frijns’ leading figure was two seconds quicker than the Lausitzring pole time from last year, in the first direct comparison between the new four-cylinder turbocharged cars and the previous-gen naturally-aspirated machines.

***Reigning Blancpain GT World Challenge Asia champion Martin Kodric will drive one of the Teo Martin Motorsport McLaren 720S GT3s in this year’s International GT Open. The McLaren-affiliated driver will share driving duties with Henriqe Chaves.

***Vincenzo Sospiri Racing has also finalized its GT Open lineup with Kang Ling and Frederik Schandorff named to drive the Italian team’s Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo.